Mystery surrounds penguin deaths in Australian theme park

Queensland's Gold Coast attraction, Sea World, is still recovering from the
mysterious deaths of 25 of their 37 fairy penguins.

The birds began dying last Thursday, sparking fears of bird flu. However,
tests conducted by Biosecurity Queensland have now ruled that out.

Sea World's manager of marine sciences Steve McCourt said that he suspects
the deaths were caused by contaminated gravel that was placed in the bird's
enclosure as part of three-monthly maintenance. McCourt declined to say where
the gravel came from.

Biosecurity Queensland principal veterinary officer, Ian Douglas, said it
might take two or more weeks to determine what killed the birds.